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Have you ever walked in to a bicycle store and had one of the sales representative talk to you about equipment and components and you nod along but you really don’t have a clue what he’s saying?  If you’re like most people, this would have happened to you.  In order to avoid embarrasing situations like this and end up buying something you don’t really need or leaving the store, we have prepared a little cheat sheet (glossary) of the main bicycle parts and some ‘bikie’ jargon. I’ll try to keep it simple.

Let’s start from the general and work down to the more specific;

Main parts of the bike

• Frame This is the main component of the bike, it is composed (in most cases) of two adjacent triangles. The frame hosts all the other components.
• Fork Is the wish bone shaped part that holds the front wheel in place while joining it to the Frame.
• Seat Post Binds the saddle and frame together. In most cases it can be pushed in or pulled out to adjust the height of the saddle.
• Stem Connects the Handle bars to the steerer and fork.  Can vary in lengths usually expressed in mm. (ie. 120 = 12 cm.) and in angle usually expressed in degrees (ie. 90°. Equates for a strait stem),
• Handle bars Are the resting place for the hands and the main component for steering the bike.  In most cases it also hosts the Break Levers.
• Cages Hold the water bottles.
• Saddle Bicycle’s seat.
• Wheels Are the main rotational component and are referred to as a complete set.  Below is list of its sub components.
• Group Set When referred to, it encompasses  the following 8 components: Break Levers (2); Front Derailleur, Rear Derailleur, Bottom Bracket, Crank set, Cassette, Break Calipers (2) and Chain.
• Pedals Links the power driving device (crank set) to the bicycle and the cyclist’s feet. 

Sub components

• Wheels

Rim Holds the tyre in place.
Spokes Connect the Rim to the Hub
Hub Hosts a series of bearings and serves as center pivot for the wheel to spin.
Nipples are at the joints between the spokes and the rim.  Usually are adjustable in order to keep the wheel true (straight).
Tyres Are the contact point between the bike and ground. Can be Tubeless, Clincher or Tubular.
Clincher Is the most common type of tyre.  It is a U shaped tyre that requires an inner tube to hold the air.
Tubeless Most commonly used in mountain bike wheels.  Very similar to Clincher (U shape) but don’t require an inner tube.
Tubular Are special type of tyre used in high end wheels.  It is a combination between an inner tube and a tyre.  They are glued to the outer rim wall.
Tubes hold the air in Clincher tyres.
Rim Tape Some Clincher tyres and wheels require a Rim Tape, which is nothing more that layer between the rim and the tube which helps to avoid punctures.
Quick Release / Skewers Links the Wheel system with the frame and forks

• Group set

Break Levers Activate the break calipers.
Break Calipers When activated by pulling the break levers they pinch the rim (or disc) to increase the friction and stop the bike.
Crank Arm Is the main power driving component connected to center bearing axis (Bottom Bracket). Looks and extension of the frame where the pedals are attached.
Bottom Bracket Is the interior bearing axis that links the Crank Arms on either side of the bike. It is not visible unless the bike is taken apart.
Chain Ring Is big ‘Toothed’ ring component bolted to the right crank arm. It engages the chain’s hollow points in order to transfer the power from the legs to the rear wheel.
Crank set Refers to both Crank arms and the Bottom Bracket.
Chain Links the Crank Set to rear cassette in order to make the back wheel spin.
Front Derailleur Is the lever attached to the seat tube in the frame that shifts the chain from the different chain rings allowing for low and high gears.
Rear Derailleur Rear mechanism that shifts the chain from the different gears in the cassette.
Cassette Are the various star like concentric wheels through which the chain passes allowing climbing or sprinting gears. 

• Other Terms

Internal Rutting Are cables running inside the tubes of the frame or handlebar.
Sealed bearing Are bearings that are ‘sealed’ there fore don’t require any maintenance.
Integrated handle bar Top of the line component that is usually made of one piece carbon fiber that integrates the stem and handle bars.
Monocoque Carbon Refers to a one piece  frame (with out any joints) made out of Carbon fiber.Lugged Carbon Frames Are individual carbon fiber tubes bonded together at the joints.
Cro-Moly Is an alloy used in the construction of frames made predominantly form Chromium and Molybdenum.
Radial Refers to a type of spoke lacing in which the spoke shoots out form the center of the hub creating a radius.
2x lacing Another type of spoke lacing were the spokes should out of the hum from at a tangent point and intercross one another before reaching the rim.
Double / Triple butted Are types of tube constructions were the tubes have different widths along to save weight and re-enforce stress heavy areas in the frame.
Module Some manufacturers now sell modules which are a frame with a Stem, Bottom Bracket and seat post.

I hope this glossary helps you to understand the different parts of the bike and some of the bikie jargon spoken in Bike Stores. If anything is not clear or you need some further explanation don’t hesitate to ask the staff of your nearest bike store, they are there to help you.